Nevada earthquake: Huge 5.4 quake rattles US – worst earthquake streak in 66 years

Two earthquakes – one in Nevada and the other in California – struck within 30 seconds of each other. The strong quake hit at 1.13am local time (9.13am GMT). It follows a series of other strong quakes, with USGS saying the area was facing its worst streak in 66 years.

It follows a series of other strong quakes, with USGS saying the area was facing its worst streak in 66 years.

One person said: “Started off small.

“Thought it was done then it intensified in Tonopah.”

Another witness echoed: “Started off fairly gently but intensified in Goldfield, Nevada.”

Nevada earthquake

Nevada has been struck by a strong earthquake (Image: usgs.gov)

Nevada earthquake damages roads

Nevada earthquake damages roads (Image: YouTube)

A spokesperson for US Geological Survey told CNN the earthquake was “widely felt”.

It added the quake shocked locals as the area has a “streak of not having big earthquakes for 66 years.”

Esmeralda County Sheriff, Sharon Wehrly, posted a video of road damage to US 95 and a large hole can be seen in the middle of the road.

In the video, Ms Wehrly says: “As you can see, the highway has shifted at mile marker Esmeralda 89.

READ MORE: Yellowstone volcano eruption threat pinpointed after ‘epiphany’ 

Nevada earthquake aftermath

Nevada earthquake aftermath (Image: YouTube)

“A Nye County patrol is on the way to Gabbs to meet with the townspeople, assess damage, and assist them.”

Graham Kent, director of the Nevada Seismological Laboratory said the earthquake was set in a number of cities.

He added: “As the third most seismic state in the nation, we kind of had a streak of not having big earthquakes for 66 years

“This was a magnitude 6.5, and it was certainly felt in the Reno-Tahoe area, and also throughout the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys in California.”

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The world's deadliest earthquakes

The world’s deadliest earthquakes (Image: Express)

There was a 5.2 earthquake in California and a 5.5 in Nevada within 30 seconds of each other.

The earthquake occurred 72 miles from California City, 79 miles from Porterville and 83 miles from Lindsay.

In both California and Nevada, on average five earthquakes with magnitudes between 5.0 and 6.0 occur every year.

These latest earthquakes come after scientists warned the volcano in Yellowstone National Park could erupt.

The earthquake cracks a road in Nevada

The earthquake cracks a road in Nevada (Image: YouTube)

Despite such an eruption not occurring in more than 640,000 years, the system is constantly monitored by the USGS for any changes.

The monitoring group revealed 58 earthquakes have hit Yellowstone in the past 28 days. 

All of the earthquakes were relatively small, with the largest being a 2.3 magnitude tremor on November 8.

Although all of the earthquakes have been small, some experts warn it is not necessarily the size of an earthquake which is the indication of an upcoming volcanic eruption, but more the quantity of them.

58 earthquakes hit Yellowstone in past 28 days

58 earthquakes hit Yellowstone in past 28 days (Image: Getty)

Portland State University Geology Professor Emeritus Scott Burns said: “If you get swarms under a working volcano, the working hypothesis is that magma is moving up underneath there.”

Yellowstone’s National Park Service said that the region usually has about 700 earthquakes a year, so 58 earthquakes in a single month is not unheard of.

In fact, on the upper scale, Yellowstone can experience up to 3,000 quakes in a year.

source: express.co.uk